reviewsmton
Hip-Hop Reviews - M to N
Please note that the reviews are ordered by Artist first name..
All reviews are opinion, a guide only. Some are short and to the point, others go into more depth. No real reason why other than when the reviews were written! For other fantastic reviews, check out trailblazinministries.com, sphereofhiphop.com, gospelflava.com, hiphopforthesoul.com and jydist.com. Cross Rhythms has some good reviews too, although limited in content.
Please note if you see any of these reviews elsewhere, it is because I have done the reviews for others. These reviews are mostly for Cross Rhythms, although they edit the reviews. The reviews on these pages are my full reviews.
Mars Ill - Backbreakanomics | TOP
Another dope release - it's Mars Ill ! Slightly different to Raw Material. I'd have to say that this is an even more underground release than Raw Material (as is the CD inlay!). Like a good book, needs to be studied and listened to for its full and profound impact. Unlike some reviews I'm not going to go deep into the lyrics - you have to hear them yourself. After the shout out from Blackalicious, the album starts up with the anthemic catchy sung hook of 'If you know, like we know, breathe slow, breathe slow..' A fusion of samples intro lead into Pigeon John's, Manchild's and Blueprint's vocals riding one of the dopest hip hop beats and guitar riffs on the album. Mars Ill describe this as being about the fact that everyone is trying to get somewhere. 'Afterlife' has a deep feel, in varied cuts and samples, beats and lyrics, Mars Ill again showing the way to create head nodding beats and cyphers. The boom bap styled 'Black Box Artist' again demonstrates a Mars Ill theme beat under guitar / bass / trombone or tuba sample.. 'I like to scramble words around until I make them sensible..' Next up is 'Inside Out' which is again full of varied samples, instrumentation, scratches and a vocal sample laid on top of snares in the verse. Clever tune about 'loss and redemption' as we journey with someone trying to find their way in life.. 'he knows that he was broken so that he could find Christ.. used to hit the bottle but know he fights for God..' In 'Enterchange' Manchild issues a rallying call to make a break from the commercial and false tunes pushed at people that mean nothing. In 'Alpha Male' Mars Ill take a clever look and challenge to blokes who consider themselves the man, the dog - the faults of thug men, selfish men, abusive men becoming self-evident through Manchild's observations of them - while pointing them to Jesus, the perfect real man. In PSA #428, Mars Ill are humble about their own emceeing and writing gifts - but take a pop at fake hip hop and those claiming to be everything in hip hop but not excellent at anything. Both 'Freeze Framework' and 'Sideline Speech' continue the deep, underground and lyrical eloquence of the whole album. My favourite track is 'Next Door' which fuses a seriously dope beat, a descending bassline, haunting female vocal sample, organ and a beautiful chorus and a distorted guitar riff. 'We dedicate this now.. it's dedicated to you.. wanna bring my people closer to God.. be careful when you listen cos it just might change your life..' talking about being accessible as an artist to fans and people. One of the most perfect hip hop songs. 'Piecemeal' demonstrates a rolling break, guitar riffs and the hook rolls, 'If you know the words you can sing along..' Another deep and creative track is 'Sunstep' with double-time lyrics on the chorus. In 'Lump Sum' you get another chunky guitar riff with lyrics rolling over a nice break that submits to a bigger break which kicks in over it. Mix all this in with cuts, samples and breaks from the man Dust and you get a great album. Not for the commercial heads - but you need to check it to learn and grow. Run Time - 64.44.
Mars Ill - Blue Collar Sessions (vinyl) | TOP
Some underground beats and flows from the Mars Ill crew.
Mars Ill - Raw Material | TOP
What can I say? I'm late to the Christian hip hop scene but picked this up in the Christian bookshop in Birmingham for just £7. Man, was that the best buy. Absolute classic, no doubt, for real. This is ill - as in Mars Ill. This cuts it with any secular rappers and beat makers. This dopest of dope album mixes intelligent rhymes with intelligent, complex, yet deftly simple beats. I have learnt so much from this piece of 'gold'. It's the kind of album you seriously need to hear to get knowledge. Hard to know where to start in reviewing this, phat scratching and sampling and rhymes that leave you feeling enriched and desperate to get into the studio to sample, cut and mix the latest beats and vocals. Lots of issues covered - from Sphere of Hip Hop, to Black Market, to Love's Not, Monotone, Compound Fractures, Fade to Black to the end track, Abolition of manCHILD - I love it. This is one of the defining holy hip hop albums out there. You are a poorer person without this. Get it and get true knowledge. Just get it. No doubt. Run Time - 71.18.
MIA3 – ‘Living Words’ | TOP
This is a very tight sophomore EP hip-hop CD with a clear gospel message, and challenges to those of us who are Christians. MIA3 grew up on the south side of Chicago and has carried a love of hip-hop through his life and longs to see Christian MCs stand against other MCs while speaking the gospel of Jesus. As he rightly points out, “God doesn’t have a problem with the culture of hip-hop any more than he does with any other culture.. He just wants the culture to know, love and glorify Him..” Amen! Right from the off, over piano riff MIA3 points people to the life found in Jesus who, ‘Carried the weight of sin like a strong man contest so we could live to get into this world that God blessed..’ In “Wisdom”, over guitar riff and rolling beats, we’re encouraged to get wisdom and go all out for Christ instead of worldly things. “Never Be The Same” brings a soulful vocal hook and backing track. MIA3 encourages us to give your life to the Lord and never be the same. Other tracks follow the same encouragement such as “Rockin Wit The Best” talking about following Jesus, “Do You Know” (Jesus) and “The Way, Truth & Life” which flows smoothly about loving Jesus. We’re also challenged in our Christian life such as “Lay It All Down”, a gentle roller over trumpet and Spanish guitar riff. Overall a great independent project.
Missionary Men – ‘Homesick’ | TOP
Another mix and blend of east coast, mid-west and some dirty south from this rap duo. Missionary Men, aka Mr Monk and Jahdiel, are from The Body hip-hop crew, representing New York. Mr Monk is the grand nephew of Thelonious Monk brings an urban/soul/hip-hop vibe. Jahdiel comes out of South Bronx and brings elements of humour and clever wordplay. With this effective duo working in tandem, it’s not surprising that the penultimate track, “Heaven” is featuring in top 10 airplays across Christian radio. “Keep Talking” fires off this tight album as it means to go on – lively beats, catchy hooks and a laid-back east coast flow (think 50 Cent influence). Beats are minimal (electro at times), contemporary and off the hook at times, sure to get your head-nodding and hitting rewind. Again, we find a number of Korg Triton sounds, but it is less obvious than the sister album, ‘The Body’ - which is good thing, though still noticeable enough. High levels of production bring the album up even further. We mix in serious life elements (“Girlfriend” and “Father Forgive”), God-centred works such as “The Scriptures” and “Home Sick”. There are times of real humour too, “I got 99 problems but the pastor ain’t one..” and interludes such as “Crazy Fan” and “The Interview”. Delivery moves around the spectrum, with “Like A Soldier” seeing serious lyricism. As we move on through the album, we find an increased soulful vibe, with some beautiful hooks and harmonies (“Happiness”). We end our spiritual hip-hop journey with the powerful “Heaven” and challenging “We Pray”. Run Time - 59.18.
MYNISTA – Da Ghetto Shepherd | TOP
MYNISTA a.k.a. DOCTA WUZDEAD brings us an album of dirty south hotness..
The testimony of Mynista out of Tampa, FL shows the demonic forces behind some of secular hip hop. Mynista reveals how some artists were asked to give their soul to the devil. God revealed himself to Mynista and delivered him out of this. Mynista describes his style as a “..simplistic, universal message of what’s real, marinated in dirty south slang.” Lyrically this album contains easy and accessible rhymes with an easygoing flow and delivery. Musically the album has mostly dirty south beats and rolling hi-hats underpinned by guitar and synth sounds.
Tracks include Put Ya Fist Up – a bangin crunk party track encouraging the people to put their fists up and to get their faith up. I can see hyped clubs with crowds going mad to this one. Give It To Me – another catchy party tune, this time about giving all of yourself to God. Supah Kat – slightly downtempo song with rolling beat and hi-hats, repping Jesus and his power in us, with a nice easy hook. Rule Wit Me (my best friend)– a track with a buzzing bassline taking a look at Proverbs 31 about a Godly wife. Yo Handz – with an eastern flava / synth riff about trusting in and looking for God, with a hook, ‘Bless God, praise God..’ Luvv Me – guitar riff back into a more traditional dirty south style. Mynista confronts those who would only love him if he was still a thug, into his old life. How Long – confronting both ‘the thugs and the women’ who think God is a cissy or a punk – challenging them asking, “how long are you gonna run from God.” Ask God for new life, freedom, don’t want to run from God any more.. Beauty Queen – aimed at the ladies, with a guitar riff (reminiscent of a cross between guitaring on Rocky and Da Matrix by Corey Red / Precise) under pulsating beat and hi hats, Mynista spits about women who just want more in life – he encourages them walk into God’s future and leave their past behind. Shake Down – a track about getting shake down by God. I Got High – a more downtempo hip hop beat – looking at gang life, street life - these things aren’t real but only temporary feel-goods – only God is eternal.
The actual album contains 18 tracks, for review I only checked out the promotional CD which has 10 tracks. Run Time - unknown but likely to be a full CD.
